I'm Gilbert Cruz editor of the New York Times Book Review and this is the Book Review

podcast. This is our final episode of the year. We're going to be taking off the next couple

weeks for the holidays and we

look forward to being back with you in early January 2024. Before then, however, we

have a wonderful conversation about one of the years big books, James McBride's the Heaven and Earth Grocery

store. We heard in the comments to our various year in pieces how very many of you

love this book and so we gathered a panel of editors here from the book review,

M.J. Franklin, Elizabeth Egan, and Jumanakatib

to talk about it.

I gave them all the keys to the podcast and they brought it back in one piece.

I will put the obligatory spoiler alert right here.

This is a full discussion of the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

And if you're planning on reading the book, or if you're in the middle of the book

no problem just save this episode come back and listen when you're done.

My name is M.J Franklin I'm an editor at the New York Times Book Review, and I am joined by Liz Egan, a fellow editor.

Hello Liz.

Hi, M. J.

Thank you for joining us.

Thanks for having me.

Also with us is a familiar voice if you're a long-time listener, Jumana Gatib, another editor on the desk.

Hi Jumana.

Hey, M. J. J. J.

...